In physics the word stress describes the pressure or tension that causes a material object to deform or bend out of shape. The word is thought to have its roots in words like destress which means “to pull apart” and is recognizable in the word distressed. Feeling occasionally bent out of shape, pressured, pulled apart and tense is all part of the human experience and part of living a fully engaged life particularly in modern times. A healthy person living in a healthy world bounces back from stress.

The unpleasant feelings and physical sensations we recognize as being “stressed” are inevitable and not necessarily bad for us. In fact an acceptance of these feelings and sensations and a positive attitude towards stress makes us less likely to suffer long term physical and psychological consequences. We all have the ability to bounce back from short term stress and it does make us stronger and more resilient so that we are less susceptible to the damaging effects of chronic stress.

We can become chronically stressed for many reasons. Sometimes it’s when the demands of either the external world or the demands we put on ourselves are consistently greater than our real or perceived capacity to cope. It can also be that the physiology of stress becomes habitual in our body and the mental and emotional changes brought about by stress persist even when stressful situations and life stages have passed.

When we have been “bent out of shape”, “pulled apart” or made sick by stress there is much that can help us to get back to a state of peace, happiness, balance and health.

I will be teaching a highly effective stress reduction technique called Resonance Frequency Breathing on the evening of November 14th at the Northern Beaches Meditation Centre. To book call 02-99183460.